VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Tuesday, December 30, 2025

Stock Comparison

Merck & Co., Inc. vs Nordson Corporation

Compare moat strength, market structure, and segment coverage to understand how each company defends its edge.

Merck & Co., Inc.

MRK · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$250.9B
SectorHealthcare
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-22
Moat score
71/ 100

Weighted average of segment moat scores, combining moat strength, durability, confidence, market structure, pricing power, and market share.

Full stock profile

Dive deeper into Merck & Co., Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View MRK analysis

Nordson Corporation

NDSN · NASDAQ

Market cap (USD)$13.6B
SectorIndustrials
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-29
Moat score
67/ 100

Weighted average of segment moat scores, combining moat strength, durability, confidence, market structure, pricing power, and market share.

Full stock profile

Dive deeper into Nordson Corporation's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View NDSN analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Merck & Co., Inc. leads (71 / 100 vs 67 / 100 for Nordson Corporation).
  • Segment focus: Merck & Co., Inc. has 2 segments (89.5% in Pharmaceutical); Nordson Corporation has 3 segments (47.7% in Industrial Precision Solutions).
  • Primary market structure: Competitive vs Oligopoly. Pricing power: Moderate vs Moderate.
  • Moat breadth: Merck & Co., Inc. has 5 moat types across 3 domains; Nordson Corporation has 6 across 2.

Primary market context

Merck & Co., Inc.

Pharmaceutical

Market

Branded prescription pharmaceuticals & human vaccines

Geography

Global

Customer

Wholesalers/retailers, managed care and government payers, hospitals/clinics

Role

R&D-intensive innovator, manufacturer, and marketer

Revenue share

89.5%

Nordson Corporation

Industrial Precision Solutions

Market

Industrial precision dispensing, coating, and material-processing equipment (adhesives, coatings, sealants, polymers)

Geography

Global

Customer

Manufacturers and converters (packaging, nonwovens/hygiene, automotive, industrial, agriculture)

Role

Capital equipment OEM / process-solution provider

Revenue share

47.7%

Side-by-side metrics

Merck & Co., Inc.
Nordson Corporation
Ticker / Exchange
MRK - New York Stock Exchange
NDSN - NASDAQ
Market cap (USD)
$250.9B
$13.6B
Sector
Healthcare
Industrials
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
Pharmaceutical
Industrial Precision Solutions
Market structure
Competitive
Oligopoly
Market share
n/a
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Moderate
Moat score
71 / 100
67 / 100
Moat domains
Legal, Supply, Demand
Supply, Demand
Last update
2025-12-22
2025-12-29

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Capex Knowhow ScaleData Workflow Lockin

Merck & Co., Inc. strengths

IP Choke PointRegulated Standards PipeScope Economies

Nordson Corporation strengths

Service Field NetworkSwitching Costs GeneralInstalled Base ConsumablesDesign In Qualification

Segment mix

Merck & Co., Inc. segments

Full profile >

Pharmaceutical

Competitive

89.5%

Animal Health

Oligopoly

9.2%

Nordson Corporation segments

Full profile >

Industrial Precision Solutions

Oligopoly

47.7%

Medical and Fluid Solutions

Competitive

29.9%

Advanced Technology Solutions

Oligopoly

22.4%

Want the full wide moat stocks list?

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Curation & Accuracy

This directory blends AI‑assisted discovery with human curation. Entries are reviewed, edited, and organized with the goal of expanding coverage and sharpening quality over time. Your feedback helps steer improvements (because no single human can capture everything all at once).

Details change. Pricing, features, and availability may be incomplete or out of date. Treat listings as a starting point and verify on the provider’s site before making decisions. If you spot an error or a gap, send a quick note and I’ll adjust.